Article: Report From The Fort: Home Run Derby

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

All Nick said was "the ball was flying out." Interesting that you read that as "wind was blowing out" and I read it as "yep, sounds like Hughsie"

True, I misread that statement a bit.

 

But that doesn't really change the story much. Hughes was working on a new pitch and it's the middle of March.

[USAFChief]

It's easy to write off HRs off Hughes' changeup as "working on a pitch in ST."

 

The problem with that, of course, is that off-speed stuff has been Hughes primary weakness throughout his career, in particular lack of a deceptive change.

 

So, while it's good that he's working on it, it's also concerning that it appears he's not fooling anyone with it.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

It's easy to write off HRs off Hughes' changeup as "working on a pitch in ST."

 

The problem with that, of course, is that off-speed stuff has been Hughes primary weakness throughout his career, in particular lack of a deceptive change.

 

So, while it's good that he's working on it, it's also concerning that it appears he's not fooling anyone with it.  

To me, it really boils down to when he was using the pitch. Did hitters know it was coming because Hughes had just thrown two consecutive changeups after throwing three more to the previous batter?

 

A deception pitch is usually only deceptive if the hitter doesn't know it's coming.

 

All in all, I can't judge much from a single start. If Hughes is mixing in the change better two starts from now and it's still getting hammered, then maybe it's a problem.

[USAFChief]

 

To me, it really boils down to when he was using the pitch. Did hitters know it was coming because Hughes had just thrown two consecutive changeups after throwing three more to the previous batter?

 

A deception pitch is usually only deceptive if the hitter doesn't know it's coming.

 

All in all, I can't judge much from a single start. If Hughes is mixing in the change better two starts from now and it's still getting hammered, then maybe it's a problem.

All true.  Let's hope.  

 

Hughes represents a chance for some serious positive regression.  Something approximating 2014 would be a pretty welcome sight.